Huilua Fishpond · Photo: Joel Bradshaw · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Kaaawa is healthier than 51%
Kaaawa differs from Hawaii on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kaaawa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kaaawa
Against towns with similar incomes, Kaaawa’s lead shrinks
Kaaawa is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, but 51% of the 4,363 towns with similar household incomes ($99K–$165K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Kaaawa doesn’t win on
21% of adults binge drink, vs 17.4% across Hawaii, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Obesity, cancer and depression run high in Kaaawa
3 in 10 adults have obesity (30.6%), vs 25.6% across Hawaii. 1 in 13 adults have had cancer (8%), vs 6.7% across Hawaii. Depression is also above the state: 18.9%, vs 16% across Hawaii. In all, Kaaawa runs above Hawaii on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Kaaawa is an active town
Only 18.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23% across Hawaii. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Hawaii figure falls outside Kaaawa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Kaaawa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kaaawa is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 90% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 68%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Kaaawa’s median household income is $131,750; among the 4,363 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($99K–$165K), it’s healthier than 51%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Hawaii
Share of adults, with the Hawaii figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Kaaawa adults…
Kaaawa runs below HI on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Kaaawa
No hospital or community health center in Kaaawa itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Kaaawa; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Kaaawa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Hawaii.
How Kaaawa adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Kaaawa runs above Hawaii.
3 in 10 Kaaawa adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.1% of Kaaawa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.2% across Hawaii.
Kaaawa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaaawa | A− | 30.6% | 10.9% | 9.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kaaawa adults live with a disability (Hawaii 28.7%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kaaawa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kaaawa is better than Hawaii on 8 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Hawaii figure falls inside Kaaawa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kaaawa | HI | U.S. | vs HI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17%14.9–19.2 | 18.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.2%10.9–13.6 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.9–17.2 | 14.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.6%25.9–35.5 | 25.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.6–12.1 | 12.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%28.7–34.5 | 31.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%31.9–38.1 | 36.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.8%22.4–27.2 | 23.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%10.2–12.5 | 9.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.3–8.7 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 6.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.2%4.5–6.1 | 5.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.1–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.2%5.1–7.5 | 8.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.5%8.1–11.4 | 11% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.7%15.8–21.6 | 23% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21%18.6–23.6 | 17.4% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.2%41.5–51.1 | 45.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.2%3.3–5.3 | 5.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%75.5–81 | 77.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.7%74–79.1 | 68.3% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.8–85.5 | 82.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.2%73.5–78.5 | 76.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%67.6–74.2 | 62.6% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%74.6–83.7 | 78.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.9%16.5–21.4 | 16% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 30%26.9–33.5 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%22.4–28.4 | 30.1% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.9%11.8–16.3 | 17.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%8.6–11.8 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%4.9–6.7 | 5.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.8%5.9–7.9 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.1%8.3–12.2 | 12.2% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.3%25–31.5 | 28.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.7%11.1–14.3 | 13.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.7%11.2–14.4 | 12.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.5 | 7.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 5.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.1–8 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3–3.8 | 3.4% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Hawaii figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Kaaawa
Is Kaaawa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kaaawa is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kaaawa?
CDC estimates 30.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.9% and 35.5%, against 25.6% across Hawaii and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kaaawa?
Kahuku Medical Center in Kahuku, 11.3 miles in a straight line from Kaaawa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Kaaawa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.3–5.3%), against 5.6% across Hawaii.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Kaaawa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kaaawa.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Hawaii figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.